NEW: Cicilline Praises “Small Business Saturday”
Friday, November 25, 2011
As Americans prepare for the busiest days of the holiday shopping season, U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) today encouraged Rhode Islanders to support the second annual "Small Business Saturday" by patronizing small businesses in their local communities.
"It's important to support our small businesses because by doing so we are supporting our neighbors and our community. More than 95,000 small businesses make up the backbone of Rhode Island's economy and their continued success is critical to ensuring that we can put our state back on the right track and create good-paying jobs for working men and women," said Cicilline. "That's why I am encouraging Rhode Islanders to take time during their holiday shopping tomorrow to support our state's hardworking small business owners."
During his first term in the United States House of Representatives, Cicilline has emerged as a leading voice for revitalizing small manufacturers and providing opportunities for small businesses to expand operations in the current economic climate. As a member of the House Committee on Small Business, he has introduced legislation to establish a "Make It in America Block Grant" program to retool small manufacturers and retrain workers with the skills they need to compete for 21st century manufacturing jobs. Cicilline is also a cosponsor of H.RES.468, which would express the sense of the House of Representatives to designate November 26, 2011 as "Small Business Saturday."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSmall Business Saturday is a day for supporters to shop at area small businesses in an effort to support their local economies. The event was first organized last year by American Express, with support from public officials, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, as well as numerous small business owners.
Earlier this week, President Barack Obama authored an open letter expressing his own support for Small Business Saturday. The President emphasized the importance of supporting local business owners, writing, "From the mom-and-pop storefront shops that anchor Main Street to the high-tech startups that keep America on the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of our Nation’s promise. These businesses create two out of every three new jobs in America, helping spur economic development in communities across our country and giving millions of families and individuals the opportunity to achieve the American dream. Through events such as Small Business Saturday, we keep our local economies strong and help maintain an American economy that can compete and win in the 21st century."